Megalo Chorio in Tilos

About seven kilometres from Livadia is the island's capital: Megalo Chorio (meaning "big village"), a sleepy little village with about 240 inhabitants. The village is built in Cycladic style and set at the foot of a mountain. The big valley of Eristos spreads out below the village.

It is from Megalo Chorio Tilos is administrated. The small town hall is on a courtyard covered with beautiful mosaic. The mosaic is characteristic of the islands in the area, not the least noticed on the neighbouring island of Nisyros. Previously, the unique elephant museum was located in the town hall, but it moved to the Charkadios cave in the summer of 2020.

The mosaic floor at the town hall.

Megalo Chorio seen from the Elephant Cave.

At the top of the mountain that Megalo Chorio is resting under lies Kastro, a castle with a long history. When the pirates and Turks ravaged in Greek waters the villagers took refuge inside the Kastro. Today, most of the once so impressive Kasto is ruined, there is not much to see, but the view over the island and the sea is magnificent. Follow the narrow alleys as far up in the village as possible until you find the path that leads to Kastro. Along the path you'll pass the ruins of ancient Megalo Chorio.

Kastro above Megalo Chorio.

Going up to Kastro from Megalo Choria requires strong legs and knees.

A big advantage of a visit to Megalo Chorio is that it is close to the beaches of Eristos, Skafi, Mylos and Plaka. It is also close to the fantastic taverna To Delfini in Agios Antonios, as well as fairly close to the monastery of Agios Panteleimon.

Agios Antonios on the left, Mylos beach in the middle and Kastro on the top right.

There is a taverna in Megalo Chorio called To Kastro, and an ouzeria with the long name Palio Meraki Café Ouzeri Restaurant Kafenion. From Taverna To Kastro there is a lovely view of the Eristos Valley.

Taverna To Kastro in Megalo Chorio.

Pastitsio overlooking the Eristos Valley.

Here it is easy to spend some time and enjoying the view of Eristos Valley.

Here it is easy to spend some time and enjoying the view of Eristos Valley. Then you go to Eristos beach and take a swim in the sea. It can not get better than that. If you have the opportunity to travel to Tilos in the spring, I can promise that you will see a completely different landscape than in the summer. Not least in Eristos Valley and around the meadows below Megalo Chorio.

The meadows below Megalo Chorio in April.

Do not miss Eristos beach, which you can read about here »

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